Maria Sharapova has been dropped by Nike.
Maria Sharapova
The tennis champion has had her lucrative multi-million pound deal with the sports brand, who she signed an eight-year contract with in 2010, suspended after she failed a drugs test at the Australian Open in January.
A Nike spokesperson said in a statement: "We are saddened and surprised by the news about Maria Sharapova. We have decided to suspend our relationship with Maria while the investigation continues. We will continue to monitor the situation."
Nike isn't the only brand to sever its ties with the 28-year-old blonde beauty as the Swiss watch brand Tag Heuer, which was planning to extend its contract with Maria after it ended last year, has also decided to ditch her.
The sportswoman holds contracts with other recognised brands including; Evian, Porsche, American Express, Avon and her own sweet brand Sugarpova but the future of the collaborations hangs in the balance.
Maria, who won her first Wimbledon tennis title at the age of 17, admitted to taking the anti-ischemic drug Meldonium - used to increase blood flow to the heart - on Monday (07.03.16) but claimed she had been legally prescribed it in 2006 by her family doctor to help with her health issues.
However, the drug was outlawed by the World Anti-Doping agency for enhancing performance in January 2016 and she has subsequently been banned from the International Tennis Federation as of Saturday (12.03.16).
Speaking of her suspension, she said: "It is very important for you to understand that for 10 years this medicine was not on Wada's banned list and I had legally been taking the medicine for the past 10 years.
"But on January 1, the rules had changed and Meldonium became a prohibited substance, which I had not known.
"I was given this medicine by my doctor for several health issues that I was having in 2006. Throughout my long career I have been very open and honest about many things and I take great responsibility and professionalism in my job every single day and I made a huge mistake."Kate Hudson prefers to feel good rather than look good.
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